Dressing For The Holidays

As far as I'm concerned, there are two kinds of holiday attire kids need, both equally important.  We tend to worry about making sure kids have nice holiday clothes -- i.e., party clothes -- which is great and needs to be addressed.  But perhaps more importantly, for the winter holidays it seems to me to be crucial to have some really good pajamas to hang around the house all snugly in.  The fact of the matter is, the Gap pjs are quite cute, and you can never go wrong with a good pair of plaid flannel pajamas, but if you want something a little different, there are a myriad of great options out there.  Here are just a few.
(In a strange turn, I think pajamas may be one of the few contexts in which the boys' options may just be cuter than the girls'.  That's nice for a change, no?)

My personal favorites:
1.  Garnet Hill reindeer pjs
2.  Garnet Hill striped pjs
3.  Mini Boden skull set
4.  Mini Boden birdie set
5.  crewcuts boys' striped long johns
6.  crewcuts red union suit
7.  Tea boys' koi pajamas
8.  Tea girls' hummingbird pajamas

Not So Everyday Everyday Dresses - Kit + Lili

As brands go, I have discussed a lot of European brands without mentioning any American brands.  I do love the European clothes, but there are some great little American lines out there that deserve mention and should be in every (in this case) little girl's closet.

Kit + Lili does basic, and does it extremely well.  But with a twist, since what Kit + Lili is really about is bold, brightly colored, fun and splashy prints.  They're a little reminiscent of Marimekko prints, but more current.  The prints, and particularly the colors, this season are wonderful.  Kit + Lili has picked the most exquisite shades of purple and lavender.  Just delicious.

Although Kit + Lili has some cute tops, skirts, etc., the real standout category in this collection is the dresses.  So great.  So easy.  Comfortable, simple dresses that are easy to wear but look truly special.  The Emi Dress might be my favorite.  It is so simple.  Just a solid jersey dress.  But in unusual and very wearable colors and with a beautiful cut.

So many of the print dresses are cute that I really just want a closet full.  I want the Natalie Dress in grape flora, the Chiara Dress in violet lattice, the Hanna Dress in silver pansy, the Lucie Dress in pink pansy and the Jane Dress in ink big circles ... just for starters.  To get a feel for the choice, the entire collection can be viewed (and purchased) on Kit + Lili's website.

This season Kit + Lili has some great contenders in the special dress department too.  All of the dresses can really be worn as everyday dresses (paired with Kit + Lili leggings) or as fancy dresses with some tights, dress shoes and combed hair.  But I'm in love with metallic silver and metallic bronze dresses.  Girls will go gaga for them.  But the simple and understated design keeps them from being flashy or kitschy.  The ideal party dress.

Items from the current collection are available at Kit + Lili, Garnet Hill, Chasing Fireflies, Twinkle Star and Little Luna Blue.  Some past season items can be found on Arte Bebe, Lil Swanky and The Pajama Squid.

ready for a swim? (part 2: boys)

It is certainly easier to find boys' swimwear that is suitable and provides coverage than it is to find girls'.  But by the same token, it can be harder to find boys' swimwear that is particularly cute and stands out from the crowd.  Gap and Old Navy are generally reliable and affordable, as is H&M, but you may have difficulty distinguishing your son from every other boy on the beach in his Gap swimsuit.

If you want your son to stand out, Charlie Rocket offers some fun swim trunks that are widely available in children's boutiques and online.  These can be paired with a t-shirt and your son is ready to go.  But I'm a big fan of the boys' board shorts paired with a rashguard top.  Let's face it, surfer and skate punk style is entirely on trend right now, so you can cover your son from neck to knee while he looks impossibly hip.  

Chasing Fireflies (available by catalog and online at www.chasing-fireflies.com) has some cute and unusual boys swim trunks and tops, but most of them are quite pricey.  If price is not a major impediment, I encourage you to check out the site (the eyes see swim trunks, pictured below, are $44 and are really too stinkin' cute).  Personally, I find that sometimes boys' swimwear is worth a little extra money since it's likely to last for a couple of seasons.

For a more moderate sum, Garnet Hill and Mini Boden are perfect.  Chances are you're not putting a fitted swimsuit on your older son, but for a toddler, Mini Boden's surf suit is absolutely adorable, and for $48 you get both the bottom and the top (and Boden is currently offering an additional 25% off).  While you're at it, why not get their towelling throw-on, simultaneously cute and edgy in a skull print. For an older child, Boden's rash vest ($26) and panel boarders ($28) come in three coordinated color ways.  Garnet Hill carries a very classic and handsome rashguard and swimtrunk set by Sun Busters (the top is currently on sale for $24 and the trunks are $29).  Or match the blue rashguard top with Speedo's graphic flame board shorts on sale at Garnet Hill for the low low price of $14.  But my absolute favorite of the boys' swimwear this season (available at Garnet Hill for $58 for the set) is the Cabana Life striped ship swim set.  The picture (above) does not do it justice.  With a zipper down the front of the rashguard top, sophisticated and very wearable colors, and a terrific graphic of a ship on the side of the leg, this set is truly fabulous.  In fact, although my youngest has plenty of hand-me-down swimwear for this summer, I think I have to cave in and buy it right now. 

ready for a swim? (part 1: girls)

How the world has changed!  And as someone with painfully pale children, I am incredibly relieved to see it.  Finding a cute bathing suit is not terribly difficult, so I won't dwell on that.  Suffice it to say, if you haven't checked out H&M's children's bathing suit selection, it's worth a try.  They have adorable swimwear at very friendly prices.  But until recently, finding cute and fashionable swimwear that covered and protected your children, was difficult.  Parents have become increasingly aware of a need to protect their children's skin from the sun.  In response, the rash guard shirt and other protective swimwear have come a long way.  It is now possible to find swimwear that protects that delicate skin, while meeting the approval of the skeptical eight year old eye.  

I think one of the best sources of girls' swimwear (tune in next week for boys' swimwear) is Garnet Hill, either through the "growing up with Garnet Hill" catalog, or on their website at www.garnethill.com.  They have a fabulous selection of mix and match swimwear.  Best of all, it includes rash guard shirts, swim skirts, ... , the whole shebang.  So you can get your daughter a fun little suit, but also a matching rash guard shirt and cover-up so that she can easily transition.  And if you act fast, everything is on sale.  The Ruffled Halter One-Piece (SO CUTE, you really have to check it out), the Classic Ruffled Tank One-Piece, the Rashguard and the A-Line One Piece are all just $28 each.  The Boy-short Bikini is $24 and the Swim Skirt is $18.  You can also score last seasons styles of similar suits at even lower prices.  If you don't want to have to buy a suit and a cover-up, Garnet Hill carries Sun Buster's Rashguard and Bikini Bottom set on sale for $42 which is absolutely precious (and your daughter will love it).

Another good option for mix and match pieces is Mini Boden (www.bodenusa.com).  With the Hotchpotch Bikini, Applique Kaftan and Hotchpotch Surf Short, you are truly ready for anything.  And she can transition easily from beach to lunch and back again without missing a fashion beat.  And I have to admit, while I think at times that I have tired of Baby Lulu clothes, I can hardly resist their Makala - Forties Orange and White Stripe Swimsuit with matching cover-up (www.oliebollen.com).

If you don't feel the need to go the full nine yards in terms of sun protection, or you child agrees to wear the occassional white tshirt over a swimsuit, and you're simply looking for a more modest (but still absolutely stylish) swimwear style, I am all about the boyshort (or 50's) cut suit.  Submarine has some of the most gorgeous options around.  Some of their bikinis can be a little racy, but they have a number of fabulous styles, and their prints are truly stunning.  They do also making making dresses.  These suits can be a little pricier, but if you love them as much as I do, they may be worth it.  At full price, the 50's ruffle cut suits range from$59 to $69.  A good selection can be found at www.achildscloset.com.  Currently www.littlefashionsboutique.com has some on sale for as low as $45, as well as www.abellaboutique.com, www.girlygaloreboutique.com (try to ignore the coyly posing models) and www.izzyandash.com.  You can also contact Submarine directly through their website to find a store near you at www.submarinekids.com.br (again, don't say I didn't warn you, try to disregard the phenomenally sexy presentation of small girls on their website ... if you can look past it, they have some great suits). 

Now, if only I could look nearly as cute in my swimsuit ....